Homeschooling and Libraries

As families are looking for better ways to educate their children, more and more of them are becoming interested and engaged in alternative ways of schooling that are different, separate, or opposite of the traditional classroom. Homeschooling has become ever more creative and varied as families create custom-tailored curricula, assignments, goals, and strategies that are best for each unique child. This presents a multitude of challenges and opportunities for information institutions, including public, academic, school, and special libraries. The need for librarians to help homeschool families become information and media literate is more important than ever.This collection of essays provides a range of approaches and strategies suggested by skilled professionals as well as veteran homeschool parents on how to best serve the diverse needs and learning experiences of homeschooled youth. It includes information on needs assessments for special needs students, gifted students, and African American students; advice on how to provide support for the families of homeschoolers; case studies; and information on new technologies that could benefit libraries and the homeschooler populations that they serve.

With over 3.5 million homeschooled students in the U.S., this book admirably explores the intersection of this growing and important grass roots movement and libraries of all kinds, showing how and why libraries are a vital element in the homeschooling movement."—Bruce R. Schueneman, Library Director, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville"A rich and exciting sourcebook for librarians serving those outside of formal schooling."—Tim Gorichanaz, Drexel University, Philadelphia"This book effectively covers all the bases ensuring positive experiences and outcomes for libraries serving home school families in their service areas."—Deb Biggs Tenbusch, Librarian and Account Manager, Gale, Cengage Learning, Farmington Hills, Michigan"Whether starting new programs or expanding current ones, these chapters will help you to engage and prepare your resources to help homeschoolers."—Kathleen Christy, Adult Services Manager, Blount County Public Library, Maryville, Tennessee"21st century homeschoolers are facing new challenges and this book presents fresh solutions and describes opportunities you may not realize existed for your library to serve these important patrons."—Robert Perret, Contributor, Creativity for Library Career Advancement"I think infinite possibilities best describes this must-read book for public and academic librarians who seek to find ways to engage, support and serve the growing homeschool community."—Anastasia Varnalis-Weigle, Associate Professor, University of Maine, Augusta"Librarians of all types, as well as library stakeholders, will find Homeschooling and Libraries a great resource to help identify needs and ways to support the growing homeschooling community."—Michelle McKinney, Reference and Web Services Librarian, University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College, Cincinnati, Ohio"An impressively-researched volume that draws on a variety of perspectives, offering insight into the needs of homeschooled populations, including case studies, needs assessment, and future possibilities for programming, continuing education, and outreach."—Erin Pappas, Research Librarian for the Humanities, University of Virginia Libraries"This practical book will assist libraries as they develop ways to reach out to home educating families."—Ruth Elder, Cataloging Librarian, Troy University, Troy, Alabama"This book reopened my mind to the wonders that libraries in all of their aspects and attributes have to offer students including the unique and diverse students who are homeschooled."—Jim Jipson, University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida

Vera Gubnitskaia has worked as a library manager, consultant, and reference librarian in public and academic libraries in Russia and the United States. She has contributed chapters to several professional publications, edited multiple anthologies, and published book reviews. She is currently an art fellow at Crealde School in Winter Park, Florida. Carol Smallwood, a recipient of the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and multiple Pushcart nominations, is the author of journal articles and editor of numerous books including one in Poets & Writers Magazine List of Best Books for Writers. A Michigan resident, her experience includes school, public and special libraries.